In Years Past

June 14, 2014

In 1914, The Journal Printing Company of Jamestown some months previously purchased a new newspaper press which was on the way from the factory. The work of making place for and installation of this machine would be commenced on June 15. The old press and equipment had to be removed and foundation built before the new press could be installed. In the meantime, The Journal would be issued regularly but for any delays, the consideration of its readers would be appreciated. With the new press installed a better looking paper and earlier delivery in the homes of the city would be assured. The press was what was known as a Goss Straightline twenty-four page, three-deck press, which had the capacity of 15,000 papers per hour of any size in multiples of two pages up to 24 pages.

A peculiar automobile accident happened at the boatlanding in Jamestown Friday evening when the large yellow automobile delivery wagon belonging to the Lake City Laundry, coasted swiftly down Fairmount Avenue and crashed like a cannonball through the side of the Starkweather building. James Nocero, the driver, had stopped the wagon near the meat market on Fairmount Avenue. Nocero stated that he had set the brakes and turned the front wheels in towards the curb. Nevertheless, the car started down Fairmount and, gaining speed as it went down the hill, crashed through the side of the Starkweather block near the window of the barber shop on the south side of the building.

In 1939, rainfall of .43 inches drenched farmlands, brought beneficial results and relief from the recent drought, the worst in the area in years, according to C. Kenneth Bullock, Chautauqua County agricultural agent. Hay and pasture, berries and tomato crops were especially in need of moisture, according to Bullock, who explained that recent spasmodic precipitation had averted a crop crises here. However, growth had been somewhat below normal because of aridity. While hay crops were somewhat blighted, farmers expected crops now stunted to develop. Grapes, damaged by Monday's high wind, were benefited by the rain.

The Ellicott town attorney would undertake the work of forcing removal of signs and structures illegally erected in the town in violation of the town's building ordinance within a few days, it was announced. The action was authorized at the last meeting of the town board and Ernest D. Leet was named attorney for the town for the purpose. The town building inspector, Dr. F.W. Nisson, would furnish Leet with the list of structures illegally existing, largely signs erected without first securing permits. The town's building ordinance provided for a fine of $50 or imprisonment for 30 days or both for violations of the ordinance. Continuance of violations on successive days were regarded under the ordinance as repetitions of offenses. The application of F. H. and Inez E. Pickett for a permit to erect a store building at Babcock Street and the Lakewood road was rejected.

In 1989, David G. Dawson, Chautauqua County industrial development director, said he was considerably less optimistic this day about the future of Fairbank Farms than he was only a few days ago. A week ago, Dawson said, he felt certain things were coming together to permit the rebuilding of the burned-out slaughterhouse and meat packing plant at Blockville. Fairbank Farms was destroyed by a March 8 fire that caused an estimated $15 million loss and cost most of the 270 employees their jobs. "I was convinced last week that we had a deal put together," Dawson said. "I thought this was the week we'd make the announcement." In the meantime, however, the financing package fell apart, Dawson said.

Work had begun on reconstruction that would turn Persell Elementary School in Jamestown into a middle school. Construction equipment swung into operation the day after the city Board of Education, by a 6-1 vote, approved spending $2.6 million to rebuild the school. The project was a part of the district reorganization plan that the board supported but that Persell and Lincoln School teachers and leaders of the Jamestown Teachers Association opposed.